Nitish Kumar suggests improving agriculture risk management

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitesh Kumar today suggested for improving the Agricultural risk management strategy.

Addressing the 52nd National Development Council (NDC) meeting here, Mr Kumar said it needs to be given a more tangible and institutional context. Revamping agricultural research and expanding the national structure on agricultural research to cover more areas, for ushering the second green revolution must receive priority.

He said those states in the country which are energy deficient or do not have mineral and raw materials, need special treatment.

These natural resources and minerals, including coal should be assigned mining blocks, not mere coal linkage, to meet their energy deficiency.

Similarly, land-locked states must be incentivised to develop joint ports with states which have a long coastline as a tri-lateral cooperation between the Centre and the two participating states.

State boundaries are acts of administrative convenience and cannot override the need for balanced regional and more equitable development.

He said a special and differential dispensation including a revised formula for devolution beyond the recommendations of the 12th Finance Commission for demographically large and developmentally weak states requires serious consideration.

He regretted the benefits of liberalisation resulting in higher growth have not benefitted all states equally. Competitive federalism is understandable but the mismatch in electoral cycles invariably leads to competitive populism. Improved mechanism for dialogue on Centre-State relations is necessary, he said.

UNI BKS LS KN1651